Investigating water use efficiency and wheat growth characteristics as influenced by soil and foliar application of Zargreen organic fertilizer under drought conditions

In order to evaluate the effects of soil and foliar applications of Zargrain organic fertilizer on water-use efficiency, yield and yield components of wheat under drought conditions, two separate factorial experiments (completely randomized design of three replications) were conducted in the greenhouse. Treatments in the first experiment were four levels of foliar application (zero, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 L/1000L) and three moisture levels (field capacity, 75 and 50% of field capacity(FC)) and in the second experiment four levels of soil application (zero, 5, 10 and 20 L/ha) and the mentioned moisture levels. Greenness index, number of claws, number and height of spike, number of seeds per spike, plant height, fresh and dry weights were measured and water-use efficiency was calculated. Both soil and foliar applications methods increased grain yield, plant dry weight, greenness index and water-use efficiency compared to control. Application of 20 L/ha caused a 13% increase in the number of spikes, and the application of 5 to 20 L/ha increased the number of seeds in spike by 22 to 31%, respectively. The number of seeds per spike increased by 7.5 L/1000L foliar application. The highest greenness index (38% increase in 0.75FC treatment) and water-use efficiency (0.55 g/L in 0.5FC condition) was observed with soil application of 20 L/ha fertilizer. Fertilizer application in dry conditions prevented dry-weight loss and soil application was more effective. Application of fertilizer increases the growth/performance of the plant and it can be used to improve the quantity/quality of the yield, especially in arid/semi-arid regions.